Yonge-Dundas Square: Diamond Rings, Land of Talk, Stars

The new-age Bowie sound of Diamond Rings blasted through Yonge-Dundas Square as John O’Regan’s androgynous persona opened one of the best shows to exist at NXNE Day 3. Dancing around his keyboards and microphones, John O blew everyone’s mind with his one-man show and the audience demanded more…but he had to go race across town to play a set with Matters (the recently renamed D’Urbervilles) at The Drake Underground.

Land of Talk was up next, sharing their drummer with fellow Montreal band – and new recent iM fav NXNE find – Honheehonehee (their review/pics are coming up soon!). With friends to accompany them in tow, they rocked the stage with a very friendly vibe between them.

Stars completed this great lineup and the audience was blown away when Torquil Campbell come right out into the raving audience! He then got very friendly with the videographer in the media pit and put his face right up to the camera lens…could the camera guy get any closer?! Everyone laughed and cheered throughout the entire show and were blinded by the incredible light show… mind blowing! After things wrapped up here, it was time to head elsewhere for some acts with less family-accommodating time slots.

Rancho Relaxo: Archie Powell & The Exports, Soft Copy, Super Vacations, The Black Void

If you want to see some of the best facial expressions made by a drummer…. ever….. Archie Powell & The Exports is the band to see. This Chicago band is bringing back what we loved about 90s pop rock, but with a twist that makes them unique. They were so intense that the microphone stand just couldn’t handle the intensity…and fell over…time and time again!

3-piece Toronto based Soft Copy soon followed, bringing back even more of that 90s rock feel and they rocked the place. Next up was Super Vacations, a Virginia band with a head-shaking guitarist, and a lead singer that loved to hang out at the back of the stage with the drummer, while making love to the microphone…awesome.

The Black Void – all the way from Montreal – ended this epic night with White Stripes covers (in addition to their original tunes) and “visions of naked” broke free from their guitarist, Dave Vestaloyne.

What a way to end the third night of NXNE! Falling microphones, crazy light shows and naked guitarists. Thank you Yonge-Dundas Square & Rancho Relaxo!

- LIZ GARERI